With seven weeks to go, the campaign for state House District 63 is heating up with accusations from the campaigns of Democrat John Burger and Republican Mark Messmer.
Wednesday, Daviess County Democrat Chairman Bill Walton issued a press release asking prosecutors of all four counties in the district to investigate Messmer’s campaign for potential criminal violations.
Walton contended that mass mailings sent by the Messmer camp did not contain a disclaimer identifying who paid for the advertisement, a Class A misdemeanor under Indiana law.
“Normally I wouldn’t make a big deal out of this because candidates on both sides can and do make mistakes on disclaimers,” Walton said. “But Mark Messmer knows disclaimers are required. The House Republican Campaign Committee knows disclaimers are required. It was deliberately left off of this mailer to reinforce Messmer’s misleading claim that he is independent of politics.”
One advertisement, Walton said, stated that Messmer is independent of politics, but the mailer did not have a disclaimer saying it was bought by the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee.
“Mark Messmer is bought and paid for by Indianapolis Republicans,” Walton said.
Reece Collins, field representative for the GOP, said one mailing had a typographical error but did have a disclosure saying who paid for the mailing.
“In terms of the nitpicking, it’s a typographical error, a small error,” Collins said. “There’s clearly no intent of wrongdoing. This is clearly the minutiae of the daily campaign. Mark’s been running a campaign on the issues and not on two words.”
Collins then questioned Walton’s charges saying his candidate, Burger, has had advertisements for some time without disclosures. Collins cited several instances of yard signs, birthday cards and advertisments that Collins argues violate campaign law.
Burger and Messmer, both of Dubois County, are vying to replace Rep. Dave Crooks, D-Washington. A mass mailing advertisement can reach up to 60,000 voters in the portions of Daviess, Pike, Martin and Dubois counties that make up District 63.
If one is found guilty of the offense, he can be sentenced to a maximum of one year in jail and pay a $5,000 fine for each violation.
Local News
Democrats angry in House District 63 race
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ND commencement is Friday evening
North Daviess High School will hold it commencement exercises at 7 p.m. Friday.
Following the processional led by North Daviess faculty and juniors Janice Knepp and Cari Jo Wilson, the voluntary invocation will be led by Chelsea Graber. Stacey Beard, class president, will then make welcoming and introductory remarks. -
Fire destroys home in minutes
A Tuesday afternoon fire in rural Daviess County has left a family homeless, although unharmed.
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Barr-Reeve holds 47th commencement Saturday
Barr-Reeve High School will hold its 47th Commencement Exercises on Saturday afternoon in the high school gymnasium beginning at 2 p.m. Again this year, the graduation will be an afternoon affair.
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Loogootee to hold graduation Friday
Loogootee Junior/Senior High School Class of 2012 will hold its graduation exercises at 7 p.m. Friday.
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ND finds ways to use cell phones
A lengthy discussion between North Daviess school board and administrative members concerning future student cell phone usage dominated the board’s Monday meeting.
Board members were considering a second reading for the school’s junior and senior high school handbooks when the discussion began. -
Relay for Life kicks off
The 2012 Relay for Life kicked off at the Lena Dunn Elementary School track on Friday. The event started (above) with the survivor lap with the other participants lining the track to cheer them on. The relay continues through today at the track.
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WHS DECA shows off national award
Washington High School DECA advisor Bill Turner had show-and-tell at the Washington Community Schools Board meeting Thursday night.
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Brashear, Bush make history at DECA conference
Connor Brashear and Austin Bush became the first students from Washington DECA to place first at the international career development conference.
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NSWC Crane to host charity bike event Saturday
Bike enthusiasts will use pedal power to raise funds for injured military personnel Saturday on the 100-square-mile Naval Support Activity Crane facility.
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Shoals to hold commencement Saturday
Shoals Junior/Senior High School will hold its commencement at 2 p.m. Saturday in the high school gymnasium.
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ND commencement is Friday evening
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